The community turned out on Saturday 8 August to enjoy the music and take a stance against violence.
The song quest featured some of the Eastern Bay of Plenty’s most talented young adults (13 to 19 year-olds) who wrote and performed original songs with a positive anti-violence message.
Edgecumbe duo Harmonics, made up of Edgecumbe College year 10 students Aneska Marks and Te Arahina Webster, won the overall grand prize with their song “Say NO to violence.”
The prize includes studio time sponsored by Outlet Productions, where their song will be recorded onto a CD and played on Eastern Bay of Plenty radio stations. They also collected $400 worth of music vouchers from Outlet Productions.
Family Works delivers social services for children, young people and their families in the Bay of Plenty. Family Works Family Violence Response Coordinator, Helen Holt, one of the organisers of the song quest, says the event was a massive success.
“This year’s event had more entrants than ever and is really growing. The event is a combined anti-bullying and anti-violence campaign and allows teenagers to help inform their community about these issues in a creative way,” she says.
Songs were performed live before an audience and a panel of judges who selected the winning act. The judges included the courageous Arihana Ututaonga-White, an X Factor New Zealand second season contestant who performed despite having suffered a brutal attack which left her legally blind.
Other judges were the 2014 Song Quest winner Reon Mahalia; Julian Rewiti from Whakatane District Council; local musician Jeff Lee; Peter Waru, Regional Manager for the Ministry of Social Development; and Janice Belgrave from Family Works Northern.
Other prizes were awarded for strong performance, strong lyrics and strong musical arrangement. See the list of winners and prizes below.
Sponsors for this year’s song quest are Family Works Northern, Youth Activities Fund, Eastern Bay Energy Trust, Creative Communities Scheme, Knox Presbyterian Church, the It’s Not Ok Campaign and Outlet Productions.
Participant details
| Category | Winner | Song | Prize |
| Overall grand prize winner | Harmonics:
Edgecumbe College year 10 students Aneska Marks and Te Arahina Webster
|
Their song “Say NO to violence.” | Prize: includes studio time sponsored by Outlet Productions.
Their song will be recorded into a CD and played on Eastern Bay of Plenty radio stations. They also collected $400 worth of music vouchers from Outlet Productions. |
| Strong Performance:
|
M.R:
Niharau Smith and Ray Charles from Kawerau ages 16 and 18 |
Their winning song is titled “Loud and Proud” | Prize: $200 music vouchers for Outlet Productions and an Alvarez Sunburst Guitar with strap and case. |
| Strong Lyrics:
|
Hohepa Waenga: Solo artist from Kawerau, age 15. Attends Tarawera High School. Was part of Maori Boys in Action, who won the Strong Performance Category in 2014 | His song is titled “Reaching for the Sky” | Prize: $200 music vouchers for Outlet productions and two tickets to see Ed Sheeran in Auckland in December.
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| Strong Musical Arrangement:
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Opposed Trend: Rock band from Whakatane.
Rebecca Barton, Tyson Turnbull, Morgana Gray, Brodie Miller. Ages: 16, 17, 16, 18. Attend Whakatane High School. |
Their song is titled “Tear Stained Page”
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| Other Entrants | Safia Gower: age13. Attends Opotiki College | Her song “Over the Mountains”
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| dREADED REMEDy: Punk rock band from Whakatane’s Trident High School. Keegan Armstrong, Chloe Crabtree, Benjamin Jackson, Irimako Knez, Emma Valentine. Ages14-16 | Their song “Start Again” | ||
| Sapphx: age 17 from Whakatane. Attends Trident High School. | Her song titled “Me”
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| Katie Reid from Whakatane, age 14. Attends Whakatane High School. | Her song “Brighter Skies”
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| KSB: trio from Tarawera High School in Kawerau. Sumer Richardson, Keisha King and Bless Maxwell. Ages 16-18 | Their song “Blinded by You”
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